Cultural Reminiscence: Assessing Aregbesola’s paradigm

In one of his many popular quotes, legendary philosopher and great thinker, Aristotle, says, “He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.”

That soothing assertion, like many others, carries weight far beyond Aristotle’s lifespan with profound resonance whenever the concept of leadership not as a concept, but an act is discussed, even in present days; Nigeria’s not left out of the equation.

One of the basic components of a true democratic society is Stewardship. This basically guarantees accountability as it provides a leader with a medium of presenting his scorecard to the led, who in turn are afforded the right to evaluate the veracity of such leaders; juxtaposing the relationship between claims and realities. This is a universally accepted paradigm as far as the term 'Self-Rule' is considered. In it, of course, exists the phrase ‘People’s Power.’

In Nigeria, the political scene is, at the moment, dominated with an assessment of what incumbent political officeholders were able to achieve in their last few years in various positions of authority, especially as we look forward to the general elections starting from this year to  2015.

More importantly, it is vital to state that while Nigerians are eagerly anticipating the eve of electioneering at the federal level come 2015, the electorates in the State of Virtue: Osun, are already in the thick of the action as they are set to go to poll in deciding on whose hands the cursor of direction in the state rests in few months’ time; precisely 9^th August, 2014.

It is therefore logical to invent a thorough analysis, devoid of sentiment, of the man who has been in the saddle for the past three years, Governor Rafiu Adesoji Aregbesola. Incidentally, is a leading contender for the Abere seat of power, once again, in the fast approaching guber poll. However, it is equally important to also register that for the sake of this brief piece, the purpose of objective analysis would have been defeated if Aregbesola reign till date in terms of overall achievements in all sectors of the society is to be summarized in few lines. Hence, the course of discourse here will be limited to the scorecard of his administration in the area of socio-cultural transformation of Osun state.

After years of rigorous fighting to wrestle the mandate bestowed on him by the good people of Osun state at the poll in 2007, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s eventual vindication at the Federal High Court, Ibadan, in November 2010 was promptly followed with the responsibility of having to deliver on his many electioneering promises of transformation - from the old guards to the electorate. He hit the ground running by identifying key segments of the society that need total overhauling.

In doing this, Aregbesola brought to bear, his massive administrative acumen as a one time Commissioner in the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Lagos state. He carefully selected his members of executive cabinet after wide consultation with all sections and interests in the state, without jeopardizing the cognizance of prudency in appointing sound technocrats in order to bring about obvious changes in all strata of the society.

One of such experts in Aregbesola’s government is the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Hon. Sikiru Ayedun. Having recognized the painful truth that Osun is not in the league of oil-producing states in the country which necessitate its relatively meager monthly allocation from the Federation Account, the government of Ogbeni shifted emphasis to maximizing the minimal resources available to the state.

The same message was passed to all his commissioners with the benefit of hindsight, one can say the government has achieved quite a lot in terms of exploring the massive potentials in Culture as a viable economic fortune; all thanks to Ayedun who has been instrumental in the new lease of life in that particular sector.

It is of course no news that Osun is home to massive God-given cultural endowments. From the Osun Oshogbo Grove to the Opa-Oranmiyan in Ile-Ife, to the Olumirin Waterfall, Erin Ijesa, to the National Museum, Ile-Ife; and to the Ogedengbe Cenotaph, Ilesha, the list seems endless. However, the ingenuity of Ayedun - in particular - in seeing beyond the ordinary at turning around the sector would go down in history as possibly the hallmark of Aregbesola’s administration.

The administration has succeeded in augmenting the base of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state by de-emphasizing the focus on tax remittances from small businesses in the society alone. In tourism, the government has been able to project the state to foreign investors in the hospitality industry and tourists from across the globe.

Gone are the days when the Osun Grove was the only major tourist site promoted by the state; the story has changed.  With Ayedun in charge, other notable cultural and historical centers now enjoy equal promotion by the authority. Many of these tourist sites now wear new and befitting look, equipped with accessible road and greenery aesthetics which compliment nature at its original best.

One must recognize the place of institutions like the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, which has formed a working synergy with the Aregbesola administration in its drive to not only preserve, but to expose these financially unquantifiable assets. The Centre has embarked on series of Seminars, Workshops, Conferences, etc. with other international agencies which have helped to maintain Osun in prominence of international tourist destinations the world over.

And where do you turn to for sincere appraisal of Aregbesola’s accomplishment when it comes to the upliftment of Arts and Culture if not the Monarch. In recognition of his enviable performance in this regard, a group of Traditional rulers from Isokan, Ayedaade and Irewole Local Government Areas of Osun State recently declared their unflinching support for the governor. The Obas are The Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Oyeniyi Adetoyese; the Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Talabi; the Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Yisau Bamitale Otunla, and the Alapomu of Ipomu, Oba (Alhaji) Olaitan Alamu.

They commended Aregbesola for his conspicuous efforts in the state since his assumption of office.

Furthermore, first-class Yoruba traditional rulers: Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi (III) and Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade have continually drum support for the administration due to its commitment at elevating Culture to its rightful place within the Yoruba nation at large.

Notwithstanding the pocket of criticism from few dissenting voices in the state, one thing is clear: history will be fair to Aregbesola and his team when the time for reckoning beckons.

Fortunately, the man seems unrelenting in his conviction that, “History will be unkind to us if we allow these entire (cultural heritage) to be continuously perceived and treated in their shallow fascination rather than enhancing them for both entertainment and as inestimable economic assets of the people.”